October 2013

October has been a wild month!  So many things have happened starting with Cory having back surgery on October 1st.  He had been in pain about 7 years ago when we first moved to Hawaii.  He ended up going to a chiropractor and the pain went away.  Well about 2 1/2 months ago Cory suddenly started having back pain.  it went quickly from back pain to super severe debilitating back pain.  He was seeing a Chiropractor again but it just wasn't helping.  The pain just kept getting worse and worse until he couldn't do anything. 

Getting ready for the big surgery

We ended up going to our family Doctor and he had an MRI.  The results showed that Cory had a ruptured disk in his back.  He got referred to a Neurologist and pretty much his only option was a surgery.  Basically if the disk in his back would have been a jelly doughnut, it was like someone squished it.  Some of the disk guts came out and were hanging out in his spinal column and pinching off a nerve to his leg.  This was what was causing him the most pain.  It was also causing him to lose muscle and to have numbness.  Big trouble!  The Neurologist told him that a disk is a lot like a marshmallow but over time the marshmallow turns into crab meat.  The crab meat is what was hanging out in his spinal column.

Awesome hospital gown and surgery gear

So, October 1st he had a surgery and he is not able to bend, twist, or lift.  He can't even hold Kelsey!  In fact to Doctor had his nurse call Cory the day after surgery to remind him that he can't lift more than ten pounds.  It has been hard but luckily Cory is feeling much better now.  He goes back to the Doctor on Thursday and we are hoping that he will be cleared to go back to work and hold his baby again.  Here's hoping!



Phoebe turned 3 on October 10th which blows my mind!  We had a fun little Birthday party for her and she was really excited to be a "big" girl.

Balloon Cupcakes

Bead spider craft

Wicked scary!

Cute cat masks the kids decorated

Pin the Wart on the Witch

It was really windy and the candles wouldn't stay lit...so we just had her pretend to blow them out.

Yummy!

The kids enjoying their candy after the lolly toss.

Happy Halloween!  My kids are growing up so quickly!  We carved pumpkins which is such a fun activity with kids.  I mostly had to pull the guts out...but the kids sure tried.  Zoe was so excited to draw a cat and I got to carve it out!

I purchased Zoe and Phoebe's costumes a few months before Halloween at a great discount.  I REALLY had to convince Zoe to dress up as I wanted her to.  But in the end she loved it. 

Brobee!  From Yo Gabba Gabba.

Little Mouse with Grandpa Larry

Mulan

The kids looked so cute this year and really had fun Trick-or-treating.  Cory took the kids out and I stayed home to make doughnuts and hand out candy.  It has kind of turned into our tradition. 

November 1st we had  a Ward Trunk-or-Treat and a fun chili cook off.  I made my delicious Pumpkin Chili but I didn't win a prize.  Shoot!

Color Me Rad 5K

I like to do 5K races.  I'm not exactly a runner...or even close to it.  But I walk them at a brisk pace and enjoy getting out and being active with other people.  Each summer I participate in several of them.  Usually starting in May and I finish in November on Thanksgiving day.  Usually I have the kids in the stroller but with Kelsey added into the mix the stroller is out of seats. 

I decided to do the Color Me Rad race this year and boy was I excited for it.  Basically at four checkpoints they douse you in colored corn starch and get you all good and messy.  I signed up with a couple of friends and we were all excited.  As the race got closer I started talking about it more and more.  Well my 5 year old, Zoe, decided that she wanted to do it with me.  I didn't want to take any of the strollers...just didn't want to get them messy.  So I told her that she would have to walk it with me.  She was game.  I was nervous that we would get about half way through and she would want me to carry her. 

The day of the race came and Zoe was still really excited.  I had purchased a few pouches of color so we could get people with them.  Zoe was pumped to get people messy with our colors.  We also got some bandanas to cover our mouth and nose, and sunglasses.  Just as the race was about to start we decided to get our colors out.  Zoe had so much fun throwing color on people.  She got me and my friends and plenty of strangers.  It was fun to watch her. 

The race started and she wanted to run...so we ran a bit.  Then as she got tired we slowed a bit.  The first color station they sprayed us with green water.  I was surprised because I thought it would all be powder.  The next station was an orange powder station...they got us good!!  We were toward the end of the group and when we hit the station we were mostly alone so they all focused on us!  I covered my mouth and nose...Zoe did not.  They dumped a ton of powder on her head..I can only imagine how much ended up in her little nose!  The next station was yellow Water being thrown on us..and finally a purple powder station.  At the purple powder station she covered her mouth and nose.  Guess she learned from experience.  At each station they were playing fun music and it was a good time to dance through them.  Zoe was a fun little partner cause she was happy to boogie with her Mommy.

We finished pretty close to the end..but I am so proud of my Zoe..she did a 5K with no stops and no stroller!  First time and absolutely not the last time. 

Check us out...filthy beasts!  funnily enough the pink and purple were the hardest to get out..I think I still have pink and purple in some spots!  So much fun!

Family pictures

We recently had family pictures taken.

 It was quite the process! 

The kids weren't exactly behaving and I found myself getting grumpier and grumpier as the shoot went on.  We started with Kelsey in her blessing dress and got some real cute shots.  Luckily she was pretty happy...at that moment. 

After that we did Zoe and Phoebe by themselves.  They looked so cute!  I got their hair done and they had cute little french braids.  Phoebe was being really shy and didn't want to participate.  Zoe was being goofy and kept wanting to mess with Kelsey.  She also kept grabbing a duster that they use to get kids attention.  I was trying to keep my cool and not get mad at her. 

During the solo shoots Kelsey started to get really fussy and was super ready for her nap.  I gave her the binky and it calmed her down..a little too calm..she fell asleep!  So for the family pictures the baby was tanked!  Poor Cory had a sore knee and they had him kneeling on the hard cement floor so he wasn't enjoying himself at all.  They always seem to find the most terrible positions to put people in for pictures.  I guess discomfort turns out well in pictures.

Then they did pictures of Cory and I alone.  We really don't have any pictures of just him and I since our time in Hawaii.  It was fun and I was excited to see how they would turn out.  They only did one pose which made me sad.  I thought we should have done a cheesy smooching shot. 

During that time Kelsey woke up and decided that her 15 minute snooze was plenty and she could be happy again.  So they took some pictures of the girls together.

I was seriously shocked to see that any of the pictures turned out well.  I didn't think Phoebe would smile at all.  But they are super cute and in the end I am happy with them.  I just think I'll do individual and family shots at different times in the future.  That way it won't feel so rushed and crazy.  Lesson learned.

Welcome Kelsey Evelyn!

We are officially a family of five!  It seems so crazy that our little family has become so full and perfect.  We welcomed Kelsey Evelyn on Jan. 10, 2013 at 4:11am.  My Doctor induced my labor at 10:00 the night before and things got going rather quickly.  When I got to the hospital I was dilated to 2 1/2 and about 50%.  The Pitocin did its thing and got my contractions going good.  By 2 in the morning my contractions had gotten very hard and I was having a bit of a tough time enjoying myself anymore.  The nurse thought I wanted to go all the way without an epidural but I quickly let her know that I was all about the epidural.  She got the Anesthesiologist and he did his thing. 

Can I just tell you how much I liked the Anesthesiologist.  He had the best bed side manor of any Anesthetist I have ever met and it was really nice.  The epidural worked like a charm and I could hardly feel the contractions within 20 minutes.  A little before 4am they came in to check me and found that I was fully dilated and ready to push.  My Doctor came in and I took a peek at the clock.  I jokingly asked if they thought the baby would be here by 4:15 and the Doctor told me that you can never tell.  I started pushing at about 4:00.  I pushed through two contractions and the baby was born at 4:11am.  I made my goal of 4:15!  The Doctor told me that I am the pregnant lady that every woman wants to be.  The labor was perfect and I only pushed for ten minutes! 

Kelsey was born and she was so perfect!  She has found her place in our little family and we all love her like crazy.  Zoe is thrilled to be a big sister again and wants to hold the baby and give her kisses non-stop.  Phoebe also loves giving the baby kisses and is really enjoying playing with the infant car seat.  Lucius was super curious when we first got home.  He was all over the place sniffing her and being curious.  It's amazing how quickly you can just fall in love with a little one and how they can find their place in your heart and home.  Welcome to the family Kelsey!

 

Perfect and healthy.

I love this picture..a bit alieny.

Mommy and baby

Checking out the fruit of my labor..literally.

First shot with Mom and Dad.

7 Lbs 4 Oz

Zoe playing with the very thoughtful present that Kelsey got her.

Phoebe trying to figure things out and playing with the toy that Kelsey brought her.

I love how crazy and polka-dot-y the ambilical cord is.

Such a cute little biscuit!

Grandma meeting her new Grandbaby.

Auntie Ho-ho bonding with the cutie.

Family photo..Phoebe wasn't feeling it.

First kiss from big sissy.

First Bath.  She wasn't so sure about this part.

But she sure thought this part was nice.

At home getting used to things.  Sisters and cousins everywhere wanting to hold her.

We are officially a party of five..now we just need to get a set of wheels that is big enough to carry the whole team at the same time!